Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, reigning from 15 June 1888 until his abdication on 9 November 1918. He was the eldest grandchild of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe, most notably, King George V of the United Kingdom and Emperor Nicholas II of Russia.

Ascending the throne in 1888, he dismissed the old chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1890, because he wanted to surpress the Social Democrats like the SPD with military force. Wilhelm II saw him self as an Emperor for all Germans. He also launched Germany on a "New Course" in foreign affairs. Germany should also get a "place at the Sun". Under his reign, Germany entered the 20th century as a globally strong economic power, with the highest living standart in Europe at the time. In 1914 he tried to prevent the war and wanted to mediate between Austria-Hungary, Serbia and Russia. Germany had to go to war on the side of Austria - Hungary because they were afraid to stand alone and feared a Russian - French invasion of Germany.

He abdicated on 9. November 1918 because of the bad situation in the war and the November Revolution in Germany, and fled to exile in the Netherlands.

After WW1, he continued living in the Netherlands in Doorn. He always believed that he would become Emperor of Germany once again. He wanted nothing to do with Hitler and National Socialism and didn't liked what Germany had become. He died bitter, interned in the Netherlands by the Nazis and forgotten by the Germans on June 4, 1941.